Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

NO CASES OF H1N1 INFECTION RECORDED IN ARMENIA, ARMENIA HAS NO VACCINATION, EITHER

Noyan Tapan
Nov 4, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Unlike its neighboring countries
no cases of H1N1 infection (swine flu) have been recorded in Armenia
so far. RA Minister of Health Haroutiun Kushkian informed journalists
about it on November 4 at the National Assembly.

He said that the Ministry undertakes proper anti-epidemiological
measures. In particular, groups of specialized doctors exercise
24-hour control at all border check-points. At Zvartnots airport
special attention is paid to health condition of passengers who arrive
from countries recording cases of the disease.

Meanwhile the Minister reported that there is no vaccination against
that infection in Armenia so far as Russia, Europe, and U.S. have
just started to produce the vaccination and "there are contradictory
data on vaccination’s efficiency." According to H. Kushkian, if we
have data on vaccination’s efficiency, as well as security, Armenia
will also purchase it.

RA MINISTER OF DIASPORA HRANUSH HAKOBYAN RECEIVED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY

Noyan Tapan
02.11.2009

YEREVAN: On November 2 RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan
received chairwoman of the Central Board of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) Vicky Marashlian, director of the Central Board’s
Boston office Jirair Peotchekian, representative of the Central Board
in Armenia Karine Hovhannisian and Armenia’s regional board member
Flora Aharonian.

As reported by the Department of Press and Public Relations of the
RA Ministry of Diaspora, Minister Hakobyan attached importance to
the role of the ARS in the development of the Armenia-Diaspora
partnership. The sides discussed issues related to events being
organized for the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration. The
Central Board has the desire to create an alley of women members of
the ARS and install the statue symbolizing the ARS at Tsitsernakaberd.

The ARS representatives look forward to the support from the RA
Ministry of Diaspora in organizing the events dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of the ARS.

RUSSIA STANDS READY TO SUPPORT ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION: DEPUTY FM

Today
html
Nov 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia stands ready to support normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations.

"No point of Armenia-Turkey agreement can be regarded as damage to
the third side," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin said
in his interview with "Republic of Armenia" newspaper.

He said the signing of the protocols shows that both sides are resolute
in establishing good neighborly relations.

"The sides should ratify these protocols and start their
implementation," he said.

Karasin said Russia is ready to support Armenia-Turkey rapprochement
with economic projects, especially with the projects to be implemented
in energy and transport spheres.

"Normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey will
help reduce tension, establish peace, security and stability in the
Caucasus," he said.

HACKER ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT WEB SITES OF ARMENIA MAY OCCUR THIS DECEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2009 15:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "After several Armenian governmental web sites
had been attacked by Turkish and Azeri hackers in August 2009, the
Information and Public Relations Center of the Armenia’s President
administration and experts of Helix Consulting conducted 99 state
sites to identify their weaknesses," Aram Mkhitaryan , Director of
Helix Consulting told a press conference in Yerevan today.

According Aram Mkhitaryan, the results of the survey have been passed
to relevant authorities and for the moment all identified deficiencies
are corrected.

According to Mr. Mkhitaryan, it is impossible to inflict the final
defeat to the enemy in the information war, since it is a long process.

Speaking about the possibility of further hacker attacks on government
websites of Armenia, Director of Helix Consulting noted that they
might happen in December this year – "since during holidays there is
no one to monitor the sites. " He also added that the bulk of these
hacker attacks on government sites of Armenia have not an organized
character. "But this does not mean we should exclude the possibility
of the latter," Aram Mkhitaryan said.

IMF ALLOCATES $ 60 MILLION TO ARMENIA IN THE FRAMES OF ANTI-CRISIS CREDIT PROGRAM

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2009 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ International Monetary Fund (IMF) has finished
second monitoring of anti-crisis support program implemented by
Armenia due to its credit support. Decisions adopted by directors’
board, provide Yerevan’s access to tranche in the amount of $60. The
total sum allocated to Armenia will thus comprise $ 479 million,
ITAR-TASS reports, quoting the Fund’s release.

IMF deputy chief Takatosi Kato announced in a recent discussion that
"The global crisis has continued to have a serious impact on the
Armenian economy," and its short-term outlook "remains challenging".

"As external conditions improve, growth is expected to resume gradually
in 2010, although risks remain, including a slower recovery of the
global economy," he said, adding that "Continued reforms, particularly
in the areas of tax policy and tax reform administration, the financial
sector, and the business environment will be necessary to boost the
medium-term growth potential of the economy."

OSCE SUPPORTS THE LINE MARKED IN ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2009-10-30 12:04:00

ArmInfo. OSCE supports the important moment which appeared as a result
of frequent meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, OSCE Chairman-in-Office
George Papandreou said in his speech at the session of OSCE Permanent
Council in Vienna.

He said he wanted to express his gratitude to OSCE MG cochairmen and
his Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk for perpetual efforts
in search of a mutually acceptable solution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. He also said he supports the work of OSCE MG cochairmen
in their goal to achieve long-term settlement of conflicts in the
South Caucasus.

ELEMENTS OF THE ARMENIAN MUSIC FOUND IN Q. PENDEREVTSKI MUSIC

Aysor
Oct 30 2009
Armenia

It is the second year that in the frameworks of the 10th international
festival "Prospective of 21" is being held the concert called "Days
of Qshishtof Pnderetski in Armenia", and it is the second year that
Qshishtof Pnderetski, the Polish famous composer, whose roots are
Armenian, arrives to Armenia.

Today on the meeting with the journalists Qshishtof Pnderetski spoke
about the Armenian audience and mentioned that he had the pleasure to
see the young people on the concerts, as on the concerts in European
countries mainly is present an aged audience.

The organizer of the "Prospective of 21" festival Stepan Rostomyan
on his turn attached importance to the famous quartet "Shanhay". The
quartet has performed in Armenia the new quartet by Q. Pendevski
where can be found old elements of Armenian music.

"Just as Picasso in painting, so Penderetski in music is the creator
of many styles",- mentioned S. Rostomyan and added that it was long
before that they wished to invite Q. Penderetski to Armenia, but it
didn’t come out, it was also the wish of Aram Khachatryan and now it
came true.

Q. Penderetski is in Armenia with his wife. She accompanies her
husband during the concert.

MARY BALIAN RELEASES NEW CD – ‘BASHDENK’
By Lisa Kirazian

AZG DAILY
31-10-2009

Culture

Armenian singer-songwriter Mary Balian has released a CD of
contemporary Armenian Christian worship music. "BASHDENK" ("Let’s
Worship") is a passion project, five years in the making for the
LA-based Balian.

The CD boasts an array of high-energy, Armenian-styled pop music,
like Khachin ZInvor (Solder of the Cross) to contemporary Armenian
versions of familiar hymns like Aghaghageh Deeroch (Shout to the Lord)
and Eench Medz es Toon (How Great Thou Art) to heartfelt original
songs like the title track.

Balian’s purpose is to reach Armenians of all ages with a message of
God’s love and hope.

"My desire is to allow Armenians to worship in their own language,
through contemporary Armenian Christian music," says Balian. "I want
to encourage others through music and service."

With that passion for service in mind, Balian teams up with
organizations so that they can help each other’s outreach efforts. For
example, she will be performing for the Armenian Milk Fund on March
6, 2010.

Her own faith has inspired her music and has proven an anchor in the
midst of personal challenges that have come her way. As a teenager, she
lost her father at a young age. As a high-school guidance counselor,
Balian deals with at-risk youth issues every day. And as a married
Armenian woman balancing work, family and art, she has reached an
experienced perspective, which helps her to encourage others, both
students and peers.

Balian and her husband Manuel Saghbazarian are also leaders of the
couples’ ministry at their church, United Armenian Congregational,
in Hollywood, California.

A graduate of UCLA (BA) and CSUN (MS), Mary Balian has performed solo
and in groups, on radio and in live shows around the world. Some of
her upcoming performances and concerts include:

* November 7-8, 2009: Toronto, Canada — Armenian Evangelical Church
of Toronto.

* November 19, 2009: Hollywood, CA — UACC Evangelical "Armenian"
Worship Night. The three-day festival will also feature a youth night
on Friday, Nov. 20 and an all-English worship night on Saturday, Nov.

21.

* March 6, 2010: Hollywood, CA — Fundraiser Concert for The Milk Fund.

For bookings, information or to purchase the CD, visit

ARMENIA RANKED 91ST PLACE IN GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT

Tert
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

World Economic Forum has published the 2009 Global Gender Gap Report,
whose Index assesses countries on how well they are dividing their
resources and opportunities among their male and female populations,
regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities.

Armenia ranked 91st place out of 134 countries, up from last year’s 78
(ranked among 130 countries). Azerbaijan ranked 90, while Georgia did
better at 84th place. Other rankings include: Russia (51), U.S. (31),
Canada (25), United Kingdom (15)..

The Top 10 countries are (in the following order): Iceland, Finland,
Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, Ireland,
Philippines, and Lesotho.

Out of the 115 countries covered in the report since 2006, more than
two-thirds have posted gains in overall index scores, indicating that
the world in general has made progress towards equality between men
and women, although there are countries that continue to lose ground.

For the full report, visit the World Economic Forum’s site at

ACCERN PRESIDENT URGES GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE COURAGEOUS AT REAL ESTATE MARKET

ARKA
Oct 28, 2009

YEREVAN, October 28, /ARKA/. Accern Corporation president Hakob
Baghdasarian said the government should be more courageous in
implementing anti-crisis measures at real estate market. In an
interview with ARKA news agency he chided the government for being
too cautious in carrying out real estate market related programs.

"I am not saying that cautiousness is not necessary. What I am saying
is that at this stage the government should take some risk and when
the economy is put back on recovery track and when application of
stronger mechanisms will be possible, then it may show a bigger degree
of cautiousness,’ he said.

The construction sector has been a focal point of government efforts to
alleviate the consequences of the crisis. Last April, it approved 20
billion drams ($55 million) in loan guarantees to private developers
struggling to complete their housing projects. Some of construction
firms have reportedly received such guarantees since then.

According to Hakob Baghdasarian, market rules demand now risky actions,
while regulation of the sector may be put off ‘for better times.’

The most important step, he said, is to regulate the mortgage market,
because mortgage credits are accessible only to 1% of the population.

According to the State Real Estate Cadastre Committee, the number of
houses sold in the first 6 months this year fall by 14.2% from a year
before to 65,600 deals and by 20.6% against H2 of 2008.